Hat stand



F. s. SANDER 3,161,293

HAT STAND Filed May 13, 1953 United States Patent @ffice llgli Patented Dec. l5, 1964 3,161,293 HAT STAND Frank S. Sander, Stamford, Conn., assigner to My Donble Company, Inc., Stamford, Conn. Filed M'ay 13, 1963, Ser. No. 279,88) 8 Claims. (Cl. 2li- 33) The present invention relates to a hat stand or form. More particularly, the invention relates to a hat stand which may be adjusted so as to correspond to the configuration of any specific hat. The hat stand of the present invention may also be used as a wig stand in which case it is particularly desirable to have the configuration of the hat form conform to the head of the person intending to wear the wig.

The hat form of the present invention is made of a material which is sulliciently rigid so that the hat form will retain whatever shape it has been bent to, however, the material is also sufliciently flexible so that it may be bent into the desired shape, and, at some other times may be reshaped to correspond to the configuration of a different head.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a hat form which may be adjusted to the shape or configuration of a variety of heads.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a hat form of improved construction so as to obtain the necessary stiffness and rigidity of the structure together with easy adjustability.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a hat form and a hat stand which can be easily and economically produced.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a further reading of the description and of the appended claims.

With the above and other objects in View, the present invention contemplates a hat and wig stand, comprising, in combination, an adjustable hat form including a domeshaped top portion and a lateral portion extending downwardly from at least the major part of the periphery of the dome-shaped top portion, the adjustable hat form consisting essentially of a network of liexible substantially non-resilient relatively soft and deformable thin rods at least the surface portion of which consists of plastic material, and of elongated sleeve-shaped connecting members rigidly enclosing the rods at the connecting points of the network in such a manner that the rod portions within the sleeve-shaped connecting members are deformed, thus preventing turning and other relative movement of the connected thin rods at the connecting points relative to each other, and support means having a base and an upper portion located higher than the base and engaging the hat form so that the hat form is upwardly spaced from the base.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the same consists in an adjustable hat form including a dome-shaped top portion having an apex and a peripheral portion located in a plane downwardly of the apex and also including a lateral portion extending downwardly from at least the major part of the peripheral portion of the dome-shaped top portion and terminating in a lower edge portion, the hat form having an axis extending downwardly frorn the apex of the dome-shaped top portion substantially perpendicular to the plane in which the peripheral portion is located, the adjustable hat form comprising, in combination, a network of ilexible substantially non-resilient relatively soft and deformable thin rods at least the surface portion of which consists of plastic material; elongated sleeve-shaped first connecting members rigidly enclosing the rods at first connecting points of 'the network in such a manner that the rod portions with the sleeve-shaped first connecting members are deformed thus preventing turning and other relative movement of the connected thin rods at the first connecting points relative to each other, the first sleeve-shaped connecting members, respectively, extending substantially in the direction from the lower edge of the lateral portion towards the apex of the dome portion; at least two second sleeve-shaped connecting members located in the domeshaped top portion spaced from the apex and the peripheral portion thereof and substantially located in a plane extending perpendicular to the axis, the second sleeveshaped connecting members rigidly enclosing a minor portion of the rods at second connecting points of the net-work in such a manner that the rod portions within the sleeve-shaped second connecting members are deformed thus preventing turning and other relative movement of the connected thin rods at the second connecting points relative to each other, and a plurality of the rods enciosed in the first connecting members at the first connecting points being of sinuous shape and located in the dome-shaped top portion in a plane parallel to and below the plane in which said second sleeve-shaped connecting members are located, the second connecting members and the rods of sinuous shape reducing the liexibility and adjustability of the dome-shaped top portion without affecting the flexibility and adjustability of the lateral portion, and means adapted to maintain the network of the lateral portion in adjusted state after it has been shaped in the required manner by bending the flexible rods of the lateral portion of the adjustable hat form, the means including two rigid elongated members of adjustable length adapted to be fixed at their ends to contacting portions of the rods and located in a first plane substantially perpendicular j to the axis, and two rigid elongated members of adjustable length adapted to be fixed at their ends to contacting portions of the rods and located in a second plane extending substantially perpendicular to the axis and upwardly spaced from the first plane.

The novel features which are considered as characteristie for the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from thc following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanyinU drawings, in which:

FG. l is a plan view of a hat stand according to the present invention;

FG. 2 is an elevational view of the hat stand shown in FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is an elevational View of a modification of the hat stand of FIG. 2 taken at an angle of 90 thereto; and

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of another embodiment of the hat stand according to the present invention.

Referring now to the drawings, it will be seen that the hat stand comprises a hat form and a support therefor. The support as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, comprises a base 5, a stem portion it) and an upper portion 6 which engages the hat form which will be described further below. According to FIGS. l-3 upper portion 6 is rounded and engages the uppermost portion of the hat form; while according to FIG. 4 the upper portion 6 of the support means contacts a portion of the reinforcing structure which is downwardly spaced from the top portion of the hat form.

The hat form comprises a dome-shaped upper or top portion 1 and a lateral portion 2 which extends downwardly from at least the major part of the periphery of dome-shaped top portion 1. The integral top and lateral portions consist essentially of a network of flexible, substantially non-resilient, relatively soft and deformable connecting points of the network in such a manner thaty the rod portions within the sleeve-shaped connecting members will be deformedv and thereby prevented from turning and other relative movements of the connected rods 3 at the connecting points 4 relative to each other.

Rods 3 are of such type as to be bendable into the required shape with relative ease and to retain their shape after they are bent. The plastic covered metal rods or just plain plastic rods are enclosed and gripped by the sleeve-,shaped connecting members 4 at the intersecting points of the mesh structure formed thereof, whereby the rod portions within the connecting members will be deformed by the latter and thereby movement of the connecting rod portions relative to each other is prevented.' It is ypreferable to provide on the connecting members projections which are bent inward into the plastic material of the krods of which the network consists'. Sruch arrangement and the deformation of the rods caused thereby definitely prevents relative turning lof th connected plastic rods. Y

The rods or plastic ,rods as described herein are intended to include not only rods consisting exclusively of plastic material but also such plastic rods whichr are hollow, i.e., tube-shaped or which contain a core of metal or other material. However, it is essential that at least the outer portion of the rods consist of plastic orv other material that maybe easily deformed by Contact with the inwardly directed projections of connecting members 4. In addition to connecting members 4 as described above and substantiallyv extending in a direction towards the apex of the hat form, there are also provided in the domeshaped portion 1 of thehat form a limitedy number, at least two, connecting members 7 which are located Within the. dome-shaped portion 1 spaced from the apex of the hat form, within a plane which is'substantially perpendicular to the axis of the hat form, which axis substantially coincides with stem'10 of the support.y Connecting members 7 together with the rods embraced by the same impart greater rigidity to dome-shaped portion 1, and in the nature of a reinforcing structure will make it somewhat more diflicult to deform the part of the dome-shaped portion of the hat form which is located upwardly of connecting members 7.

' In addition, atleast two rods 8 which are rlocated in the dome-shaped portion of the hat form below the plane of connectingniembers 7 shape. Sinuous rods 8 serve to further reinforce the dome-shaped portion of' the. hat form so as to give to the same a somewhat greater rigidity than that of the lateral portion 2,. Preferably, 'sinuous rods 8 are connected at least at one endthereof, respectively, with. a rod, which is also embraced by one of connecting members 7.

'Cnce the hat form has been bent to the desiredV shape 4 rods 3 and thereby will fix the distance between the rod portions thus gripped by the opposite hook portions 11 of reinforcing member 9.

Preferably two pairs of elongated reinforcing members 9 are provided, arranged in two parallel planes, ywhich are perpendicular to the axis of the hat form or to stem 10 of the support. Preferably the two elongated reinforcing members within one of these parallel planes are arranged parallel to each other and perpendicular to those located in the other of these two parallel planes.

It willvbe seen in FlG. 4, that the upper portion of the support may contact, for instance, the two elongated reinforcing members 9 which are located inthe lower of the two parallel planes, in whichcase, upper portion 6 must be Vof sufficiently large dimensions to span the distance between the two parallelrods 9 located in the lower plane.

Y On the other hand, when upper portion 6VV of the support is to contact the uppermost portion of the hat form, then upper portion 6 must be sutliciently small to pass between the parallel reinforcing rods 9. f

FIG. l shows four reinforcing rods 9 which are arranged in two planes with the two rods. of each plane parallel to each other, FIG. 2 shows a rod located in the lowery one ofthe two parallel planes, while FIG. 3 shows a rod 9 which is'located in the upperof the two parallel planes.

Hook portions 11 are preferably arranged turnably at the ends of the rod and tube of reinforcing member 9 in order tov enable their easy attachment to the'wire network.

While rods 3 have been described to consist of plastic or of plastic covered wire, forinstance of rubber or rubber Y covered wire, itis also within the Yscope of the present invention to form rods 3 of wires which are covered with a textile material or other suit-able material into which the inwardly extending projections of connecting members 4 may penetrate so as to prevent movement of the rod portions within each connecting member 4 relativeV to each other.

Itk will be understood that each ofjthe elements described above, or two or more together, may also nd a useful application in other types of hat stands differing from the types described above. l

Y While the invention has been'illustrated kand described as embodied in 'deformable hat and wig form, it is not are of sinuous or undulating it is desirable to support the hat form in such shapeiin y order .to prevent unintentional `further bending or de. formation of the same. For this purpose, adjustable rods 9 are provided which preferablyV consist of an inner rodshaped member 9 and an outertube 9" surrounding the inner member 9.. so 'that the total length of rod,9. may be adjusted bythe degree to which the inner rod member 9' is inserted into the outer tube 9'. Reinforcing member 9- terminates atits opposite ends in hook-shaped portions 11 which are adapted to grip rods 4. Y

Means'are provided for locking innerrod 9 and outer tube 9," of reinforcing member 9 so as to maintain the desired distance between the hook portions 11 at the opf posite ends of reinforcing member 9. The hook portions 1I are hooked into the meshes of the network formedI byr intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made Without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention.

1 Without *further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention, that others can, by applying current Vknowledge readily adapt it for various. applications without omitting features that, yfrom the standpoint of 4prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention and, therefore, such adaptationsY should andare intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of yequivalence of the following claims. y

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is: A Y V1. A hat and wig stand, comprising, in combination, an adjustable hat form including a domefshaped top portion anda later-alportion extending downwardly from at least' the major part of' the periphery of said dome-shaped top portion, said adjustable hat form consistingessentially of a network of exible substantially non-resilient relatively soft and deformable thin rods at least the surface portion of which consists. of V plastic material, and.y of Velongated sleeve-shaped'connecting members: rigidly enclosing said rods at they connecting pointsl of saidV network in such a support means having -a base and an upper portion located higher than said base and engaging said hat form so that said hat form is upwardly spaced from said base.

2. A hat and wig stand, comprising, in combination, an adjustable hat form including a dome-shaped top portion and a lateral portion extending downwardly from at least the major part of the periphery of said dome-shaped top portion, said adjustable hat form consisting essentially of a network of ilexible substantially non-resilient relatively soft and deformable thin rods at least the surface portion of which consists of plastic material, and of elongated sleeve-shaped connecting members rigidly enclosing said rods at the connecting points of said network in such a manner that the rod portions within said sleeve-shaped connecting members are deformed, thus preventing turning and other relative movement of said connected thin rods at said connecting points relative to each other; and support means having a base and an upper portion located higher than said base and engaging the underside of said dome-shaped top portion of said hat form so that said hat form is upwardly spaced from said base.

3. An adpustable hat form including a dome-shaped top portion having an apex and a peripheral portion located in a plane downwardly of said apex and also including a lateral portion extending downwardly from at least the major part of the peripheral portion of said domeshaped top portion and terminating in a lower edge portion, said hat form having an axis extending downwardly from the apexr of said domeshaped top portion substantially perpendicular to the plane in which said peripheral portion is located, said adjustable hat form comprising, in combination, a network of exible substantially non-re silient relatively soft and deformable thin rods at least the surface portion of which consists of plastic material; elongated sleeve-shaped iirst connecting members rigidly enclosing said rods at rst connecting points of said network in such `a manner that the rod portions within said sleeve-shaped first connecting members are deformed thus preventing turning and other relative movement of said connected thin rods at said rst connecting points relative to each other, said iirst sleeve-shaped connecting members, respectively, extending substantially in the direction from the lower edge of said lateral portion towards the apex of said dome portion; and second sleeve-shaped connecting members located in said dome-shaped top portion spaced from the apex and the peripheral portion thereof and substnatially located in la plane extending perpendicular to said axis, said second sleeve-shaped connecting members rigidly enclosing a minor portion of said rods at second connecting points of said network in such a manner that the rod portions within said sleeve-shaped second connecting members are deformed thus preventing turning and other relative movement of said connected thin rods at said second connecting points relative to each other, and a plurality of said rods enclosed in said first connecting members at said first connecting points being located in said dome-shaped top portion in a plane parallel to and below said plane in which said second sleeve-shaped connecting members are located.

4. An adjustable hat form including a dome-shaped top portion having an apex and a peripheral portion located in a plane downwardly of said apex and also including a lateral portion extending downwardly from at least the major part of the peripheral portion of said dome-shaped top portion and terminating in a lower edge portion, said hat form having an axis extending downwardly from the apex of said dome-shaped top portion substantially perpendicular to the plane in which said peripheral portion is located, said adjustable hat form comprising, in combination, a network of flexible substantially non-resilient relatively soft and deformable thin rods at least the surface portion of which consists of plastic material; elongated sleeve-shsped irst connecting members rigidly enclosing said rods at first connecting points of said network in such a manner that the rod portions within said sleeveshaped first connecting members are deformed thus preventing turning and other relative movement of said connested thin rods at said rst connecting points relative to each other, said first sleeve-shaped connecting members, respectively, extending substantially in the direction from the lower edge of said lateral portion towards the apex of said dome portion; and at least two second sleeveshaped connecting members located in said dome-shaped top portion spaced from the apex and the peripheral portion thereof and substantially located in a plane extending perpendicular to said axis, said second sleeve-shaped connecting members rigidly enclosing a minor portion of said rods at second connecting points of said network in such a manner that the rod portions within said sleeve-shaped second connecting members are deformed thus preventing turning and other relative movement of said connected thin rods at said second conecting points relative to each other, and a plurality of said rods enclosed in said first connecting members at said first connecting points being of sinous shape and located in said dome-shaped top portion in a plane parallel to and below said plane in which said second sleeve-shaped connecting members are 1ocated.

5. An adjustable hat form including a dome-shaped top portion having an apex and a peripheral portion located in a plane downwardly of said apex and also including a lateral portion extending downwardly from at least the major part of the peripheral portion of said domeshaped top portion and terminating in a lower edge portion, said hat form having an axis extending downwardly from the apex of said dome-shaped top portion substantially perpendicular to the plane in which said peripheral portion is l cated, said adjustable hat form comprising, in combination, a network of i'lexible substantially non-resilient relatively soft and deformable thin rods at least the surface portion of which consists of plastic material; elongated sleeve-shaped first connecting members rigidly enclosing said rods at first connecting points of said network in such a manner that the rod portions within said sleeve-shaped first connecting members are deformed thus preventing turning and other relative movement of said connected thin rods at said first connecting points relative to each other, said rst sleeve-shaped connecting members, respectively, extending substantially in the direction from the lower edge of said lateral portion towards the apex of said dome portion; at least two second sleeveshaped connecting members located in said domeshaped top portion spaced from the apex and the peripheral portion thereof and substantially located in a plane extending perpendicular to said axis, said second sleeve-shaped connecting members rigidly enclosing a minor portion of said rods at second connecting points of said net-work in such a manner that the rod portions within said sleeveshaped second connecting members are deformed thus preventing turning and other relative movement of said connected thin rods at said second connecting points relative to each other, and a plurality of said rods enclosed in said iirst connecting members at said first connecting points being of sinuous shape and located in said domeshaped top portion in a plane parallel to and below said plane in which said second sleeve-shaped connecting members are located, said second connecting members and said rods of sinuons shape reducing the flexibility and adu justability of said dome-shaped top portion without aiecting the flexibility and adjustability of said lateral portion; and means adapted to maintain the network of said lateral portion in adjusted state after it has been shaped in the required manner by bending the ilexible rods of the lateral portion of said adjustable hat form.

6. An adjustable hat form including a dome-shaped top portion having an apex and a peripheral portion located in a plane downwardly of said apex and also including a lateral portion extending downwardly from at least the major part of the peripheral portion of said dome-shaped top` portion and terminating in a lower 7 s edge portion, said hat form having an axis extending downwardly from the apex of said dome-shaped top portion substantially perpendicular to the plane .in which said peripheral portion is located, said adjustable hat form comprising, in combination, a network of flexible substantially non-resilient relatively soft and deformable thin rods at least the surface portion of which consists of plastic material;elongated sleeve-shaped first connecting members rigidly enclosing said rods at first connect- 'ing points of s-aid network in such a manner that the rod portions within said sleeve-shaped first connecting members 4are deformed thus preventing turning and other relative movement of said connected thin rods at said first connecting points relative to each other, said first sleeve-shaped connecting members, respectively, extending lsubstantially in the direction from the lower edge of said lateral portions towards the apex of said dome prtion;-at least two second sleeve-shaped connecting members located in said dome-shaped top portion spaced from the apex and the peripheral portion thereof andl substantially located in a plane extending perpendicular to lsaid axis, said second sleeve-shaped connecting. members rigidly enclosing a minor portion of said rods at second connecting points of said network in such a manner that the rod portions within said sleeve-shapedV second connecting members are deformed ythus preventing turning and other relative movement of said connected thin rods at said second connecting points relative to each other, and a plurality of' said rods enclosed in said first connectingmembers at saidY first connecting points being of sinuous shape and located in said dome-shaped top portion in a plane parallel to and below said plane in which said secondvsleeve-shaped connecting members are located, said second connecting members and said rods of sinuous shape reducingY the flexibility and adjustability of said dome-shaped top portion without affecting the flexibility and adjustability of said lateral portion; and means adapted to maintain the network of said lateral portion in adjusted state after it has been shaped in the required manner by bendingk the flexible rods of the lateral portion of said adjustable hat form, said means including a first plurality of rigid elongated members of adjustable length adapted to Vbe fixed at their ends to contacting portions of said rods and located in a first plane substantially perpendicular to said axis, and a second plurality of rigidtelongated members of adjustable length adapted to be fixed at their ends to contacting portions of said rods and located in a second vplane extending substantially perpendicular to said axis and upwardly spaced fromsaid first plane, said rigid etongated members of said first plurality extending in a direction substantially perpendicular Ito the direction of said rigid elongated members of said second plurality.

7. An adjustable hat form including a dome-shaped top portion having an apex and a peripheral portion located in a plane downwardly of said apex and also including a lateral portion extending do'wnwardly'from at least the major part of theperipheral portion of said dome-shaped top portion and terminating ina lower edge portion, said hat form having an axis extending downwardly from the -apex of saiddome-shaped top portion substantially perpendicular to the plane in which said peripheral portion is located, said; adjustable hat form comprising, in combination, a network of flexible substantiallynon-resilient relatively soft and deformable thin rods at least the surface portion of which consists of plastic material; elongated sleeve-shaped first connecting members rigidly enclosing said rods `at first connecting points of said network in such a manner that'the rod portions within said sleeve-shaped first connecting members are deformed thus-*preventing turning and other relative movement of said connected thin rods at said first connecting point-s relative to each other, said first sleeve-shaped connecting members, respectively, extending substantially in the Vdirection from the lower edge of said lateral portion towards the apex of said dome portion; at least Itwosecond sleeve-shaped connecting members located in said dome-shaped top portion spaced from the apex andthe peripheral portion thereof and substantially located in plane extending perpendicular to said axis, said second Vsleeve-shaped connecting mem- 'bers rigidly enclosing a minor portion of said rods at 'secondconnecting points of said network in such a manner that the rod portions within said sleeve-shaped second connecting members are deformed thus preventing turning'and other relativemovement of said connected thin rods at said second connecting points relative to each other, and a plurality of `said rod-s enclosed in said first connecting .members at said first connecting points being of sinuous shape and located in`said dome-shaped top portion in a plane parallel toy and below said plane in which said second sleeve-shaped connecting members 2 are located, said second connecting members and said rods of sinuous shape reducing the flexibility and adjustability of said dome-shaped top portion without affecting the iiexibility and adjustability of said lateral portion; and means adapted to maintain the network of said lateral portion in adjusted state after it has been shaped in the required manner by bending -the flexible rods of thelateral portion of said adjustable hat form, said means including two rigid elongated members of adjustable `length adapted to be fixed at their ends to contacting portions of said rods 'and `located in a first plane substantiallyy perpendicular to said axis, and two rigid elongated members of adjustable length adapted to be fixed at their ends to contacting portions of said rods and located in a secondplane extending substantially perpendicular to said axis and upwardly spaced from said first plane. Y v

8. A hat and wig stand comprising, in combination, and adjustable hat form including a dome-shaped top portion having an apex and a peripheral portion located in a plane Vdownwardly of said apex and also including a lateral portion extending downwardly from at least the major part of the peripheral portion of said dome-shaped top portionand terminating in a lower edge portion, said hat form'having an axis extending downwardly from the apex of said dome-shaped -top portion substantially perpendicular to the plane in which said peripheral portion is located, said adjustable hat form comprising, in cornbination, a network of fiexible substantially non-resilient relatively soft and deformable thin rods at least the surfac/e portion of which consists of plastic material; elongated sleeve-shaped first connecting members rigidly enclosing said rods at first connecting points of said network in such a manner'th'at the rod portions within said sleeve-shaped first connecting members are deformed thus preventing turning and other relative movement of said connected thin rods at said irst'connecting points relative to eachother, said first sleeve-shaped connectingA members, respectively extending substantially in the directionfrom the lower edge of saidY lateral portion towards the apex of said dome portion; at least two second sleeve-shapedl connecting members located in said dome-shaped'ftop portion spaced from the apex and the peripheral portion thereof and substantially located in a plane extending perpendicular to said axis, said second sleeve-shapedV connecting members 'rigidly enclosing a minor portion of said rods at second connecting points of said network in such a manner that the rod portions within said sleeve-shaped second connecting members are `deformed thus preventing turning and other relative movement of 'said connected thin rods at said` second connecting points relative to each other, and a plurality of said rodsenclosed in said rst connecting members at said first connecting points being of sinuous shape and located in said ldome-shaped top portion in a plane parallel to and below said plane in which said second sleeve-shaped connecting members are located, said second connecting members and said rods of sinuous shape 9 reducing the ilexibility and adjustability of said domeshaped top portion Without affecting the iexibility and adjustability of said lateral portion; means adapted to maintain the network of said lateral portion in adjusted state after it has been shaped in the required manner by bending the flexible rods of the lateral portion of said adjustable hat form, said means including a iirst plurality of rigid elongated members of adjustable length adapted to be fixed at their ends to contacting portions of said rods aud located in a rst plane substantially perpendicular to said axis, and a second plurality of rigid elongated members of adjustable length adapted to be fixed at their ends of contacting portions of said rods and located in a second plane extending substantially perpendicular to said axis and upwardly spaced from said first plane, said rigid elongated members of said first plurality extending in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction of said rigid elongated members of said second plurality; and support means having a base and an upper portion located higher than said base and engaging said hat form so that the same is upwardly spaced from said base.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 764,495 Oliphint July 5, 1904 797,833 Anderson Aug. 22, 1905 1,231,635 Nelson July 3, 1917 

1. A HAT AND WIG STAND, COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, AN ADJUSTABLE HAT FORM INCLUDING A DOME-SHAPED TOP PORTION AND A LATERAL PORTION EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY FROM AT LEAST THE MAJOR PART OF THE PERIPHERY OF SAID DOME-SHAPED TOP PORTION, SAID ADJUSTABLE HAT FORM CONSISTING ESSENTIALLY OF A NETWORK OF FLEXIBLE SUBSTANTIALLY NON-RESILIENT RELATIVELY SOFT AND DEFORMABLE THIN RODS AT LEAST THE SURFACE PORTION OF WHICH CONSISTS OF PLASTIC MATERIAL, AND OF ELONGATED SLEEVE-SHAPED CONNECTING MEMBERS RIGIDLY ENCLOSING SAID RODS AT THE CONNECTING POINTS OF SAID NETWORK IN SUCH A MANNER THAT THE ROD PORTIONS WITHIN SAID SLEEVE-SHAPED CONNECTING MEMBERS ARE DEFORMED, THUS PREVENTING TURNING AND OTHER RELATIVE MOVEMENT OF SAID CONNECTED THIN RODS AT SAID CONNECTING POINTS RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER; AND SUPPORT MEANS HAVING A BASE AND AN UPPER PORTION LOCATED HIGHER THAN SAID BASE AND ENGAGING SAID HAT FORM SO THAT SAID HAT FORM IS UPWARDLY SPACED FROM SAID BASE. 